Jamuary 2023 jam journal

[Ben Asaro]

I'm going to be participating in Jamuary this year just for the kick in the pants and the off chance of being inspired by something. I'll be posting my jams here for anyone that wants to have a look/listen.

I'm currently torn between using the BSP with a drum machine, MOPHO and JP-08 ... or the Lyra-8 with Clouds and a looper. Maybe I'll switch between the two?

I'm really looking forward to another synth challenge, it feels like ages since I've done something like this, and Septmber - November were just a complete blur of life business. Nothing like synthing to force you to slow down and enjoy individual moments and meditation!

If anyone would like to join me, feel free to post your jams in here as well!

[Eddy Deegan]

What a good idea! I'm up for it and will contribute as much as I'm able

I've got a few bits o' gear within a few feet of me that deserve some more hands-on time than they've been getting lately!

[Ben Asaro]

Awesome! The more the merrier!

[Drew Stephenson]

What's the basic principle here?

[Ben Asaro]

What's the basic principle here?

Pretty simple: Record as many jams as you can in January. It's usually synths with minimal setups.

[Drew Stephenson]

Hmm. Might try it with a guitar. Synths aren't really my thing.

[Ben Asaro]

Hmm. Might try it with a guitar. Synths aren't really my thing.

Mine either, to be perfectly honest! I'm a guitar player IRL, I just bought the Mother-32 and didn't have enough sense to stop!

You should definitely join in, the instrument isn't important!

[Arpangel]

I’ll try Ben, but I’ve got to get this damn album finished, it’s becoming a bit of a joke now.
I’ve got a little tape four-track set-up in the corner here, the only things I’m using with it are a couple of Korg Monotron Delays, a MicroGranny, and a guitar pedal, it’s a challenge, see what happens, I’ll post some jams if I get time, hopefully.

[Ben Asaro]

It’s Jamuary Eve, so I am resurrecting this thread. I’ve decided that I will likely have different systems for weekdays vs weekends as I don’t have a permanent music space and can’t keep the modular set up forever.

My goal will be to focus on small, 2-3 unit stand alone systems that can be set up and broken down quickly, and trying to leverage synths I never really use, such as the JP-08.

Looking forward to this!

[Eddy Deegan]

I've stickied the Jamuary topic for January!

My goal will be to produce 'something' on as many days as possible, with the modular featuring somewhere in each one. I'm looking forward to it too

[Ben Asaro]

Thanks, Eddy!

I have a compositional challenge for Jamuary as well that I've been wanting to try out for ages and never got round to it -- involving interlocking/interweaving random musical phrases.

[Ben Asaro]

Jam #1 -- https://soundcloud.com/user-996065339/j ... al_sharing

[Drew Stephenson]

Completely forgot about this and got caught up in doing some 'proper' recording instead.

Enjoying your piece though.

[Martin Walker]

Enjoying your jam #1 Ben - smacks of paradiddles!

[Ben Asaro]

Enjoying your jam #1 Ben - smacks of paradiddles!

LOL an apt description!

[Ben Asaro]

Going off-road today: MiniBrute > Clouds.

[Ben Asaro]

Day 2, https://soundcloud.com/user-996065339/j ... al_sharing

MiniBrute > Clouds > Blackhole. I wanted to go back an re record this, but I don't think that's in the spirit of the challenge. Live with the looper, was a ton of fun!! Tomorrow is another day, may try to refine this idea a bit, may do something totally different!

[Eddy Deegan]

Wow, that's one heck of a drone Ben. Great stuff!

A bit of a late start for me as I was occupied with other things yesterday but today I've been noodling some things on the modular and a couple of bits of peripheral kit and hopefully will have something shareable tonight

[Ben Asaro]

This highlighted how out of practice I am performing with the looper!

Looking forward to hearing what you come up with!

[Eddy Deegan]

Well, that was an interesting session. I started out trying something but ended up doing something completely different!

https://deegan.org/jamuary/

It uses the 2HP Pluck, 2HP Tune, Expert Sleepers Disting 4 (playing a sampled pad created with Paulstretch from my own sources), Squarp Hermod, Arturia Minifreak and Nord Drum 3P.

I'll evolve/update the webpage over the month so the above will always be the link.

It's definitely a very ad-hoc piece of musical chaos but it was a ton of fun making it

[Martin Walker]

Day 2, https://soundcloud.com/user-996065339/j ... al_sharing

Great stuff Ben - reminded me of Eddie Jobson's wonderful intro to 'Alaska' (particularly your 2nd section) before the rest of the UK band members come in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkD-j_1eoSY

[Martin Walker]

Well, that was an interesting session. I started out trying something but ended up doing something completely different!

https://deegan.org/jamuary/

It uses the 2HP Pluck, 2HP Tune, Expert Sleepers Disting 4 (playing a sampled pad created with Paulstretch from my own sources), Squarp Hermod, Arturia Minifreak and Nord Drum 3P.

Nice one Eddy - the Pluck and Nord 3P really make this distinctive, and I suspect I noticed some Vangelis influences!

It's also interesting that you and Ben both started your jams with a C drone

[Ben Asaro]

lol Cm is my go-to for jams!

[Ben Asaro]

Well, that was an interesting session. I started out trying something but ended up doing something completely different!

https://deegan.org/jamuary/

It uses the 2HP Pluck, 2HP Tune, Expert Sleepers Disting 4 (playing a sampled pad created with Paulstretch from my own sources), Squarp Hermod, Arturia Minifreak and Nord Drum 3P.

I'll evolve/update the webpage over the month so the above will always be the link.

It's definitely a very ad-hoc piece of musical chaos but it was a ton of fun making it

Wow, that was really cinematic!